by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

In news as expected as "Mark Sanchez refuses to give up his job to Tim Tebow," former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has told both the league and the NFL Players Association he won't step aside as the arbitrator in the New Orleans Saints bounty case, according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.

Tagliabue was appointed by current commissioner Roger Goodell, who recused himself from the appeals process last month. The NFLPA and Jonathan Vilma's attorney filed motions in a New Orleans court asking a judge to recuse Tagliabue.

The players believe Tagliabue is incapable of being an objective arbitrator because he's senior of counsel at the law firm representing the NFL in Vilma's defamation suit and because he still serves as an advisor for the league.

The motions are still pending. According to a report by ESPN, the hearings, which were originally slated for last week but were postponed by Hurricane Sandy, will be held on Nov 20.